Learning local queer history helped me reclaim my right to public space

After an incident of homophobic harassment, learning about my local park’s LGBTQ+ history gave me the confidence to keep going out for daily walks

By Rosen Pitman-Wallace

Identity

Thanks to new legislation, it’s significantly easier for trans people to change their gender markers in Finland

The process no longer requires that trans people have surgery or a psychiatric assessment

By Claire Forth

Xtra News Flash

Celebrating more inclusion on ‘The Sims,’ anti-trans bills killed in Virginia and Finland’s gender update—just a few of the stories we’re tracking this week

6 news stories impacting LGBTQ2S+ folk today

By Maddy Mahoney

Mental Health

The passing of transphobic laws increased internet searches for ‘suicide’ and ‘depression,’ study finds

The study also found that when a transphobic bill was defeated, the number of searches on those topics decreased

By Diamond Yao

Reproductive Health

Gay man sues Health Canada over discriminatory sperm-donation policies

The court case comes amidst a nationwide sperm-donor shortage, which has left many Canadian queer families, single women and people experiencing infertility in the lurch

By Emma Bainbridge

Violence against LGBTQ2S+

Brazil recorded 242 violent LGBTQ+ deaths in 2022

During Bolsonaro’s final year as president of Brazil, researchers say a queer person was killed every 34 hours in the South American country

By Denio Lourenco

Politics

No, Conservatives, you aren’t being discriminated against

OPINION: Conservatives are trying to protect political belief on human-rights grounds, betraying the whole reason human rights protections exist

By Dale Smith

Trans Health

The ‘Utah-style compromise’ is dead

OPINION: In recent years, legislators in the state have occasionally shown compassion on LGBTQ2S+ issues. Utah’s recent anti-trans bill shows that empathy has run out

By Katelyn Burns

Identity

German parliament centres LGBTQ+ experiences on Holocaust Memorial Day for the first time

The remembrance comes after years of campaigning from activists

By Jackie Richardson

Politics

Tennessee rejects HIV funding over inclusion of trans rights, abortion groups

Experts say the state could experience a major outbreak as a result of the funding loss

By Cassandra Kislenko

Media

When it comes to anti-trans bills, how much panic is too much panic?

ANALYSIS: Constant legislative attacks are damaging trans people’s mental health. How do reporters inform the public without telling them they’re doomed?

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Work

Several states are raising their minimum wage—queer tipped workers are still fighting distinct disadvantages

LGBTQ2S+ tipped workers struggle on their path to fairer wages

By Alina Kim

Politics

Over half of LGBTQ2S+ parents in Florida have considered moving out of state

Seventeen percent have already taken steps to leave the state

By Maddy Mahoney

Violence against LGBTQ2S+

Data shows huge increase in trans hate crimes across Scotland in past decade

This latest data comes at the heels of the U.K. government’s decision to block the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform bill

By Diamond Yao

Identity

Quebec is dragging its feet on gender-neutral health cards

Two years since Quebec’s highest court ruled that documents needed to include X gender markers, only F and M are available

By V.S. Wells

History

Authorities have been trying to suppress public gender nonconformity for centuries—and now the U.S. is stepping up the attacks

A surge of proposed drag bans, which would bar “male or female impersonators” from appearing where children could see them, form part of a very contemporary moral panic—but the ideologies at their core are nothing new

By Kit Heyam

Censorship

Conservatives attack signage advocating LGBTQ2S+ rights

A school board and the House of Representatives target LGBTQ2S+ signs and flags

By Jackie Richardson

Power

Forcibly outing trans kids is dangerous

OPINION: When schools are required to disclose a child’s trans identity, they prioritize parents over students’ well-being

By Katelyn Burns